Her Song, His Heart

The Breaking Point

The days in Paris had felt like a dream. After the photoshoot, after the quiet moments shared between Hyunjin and Mannon, everything had seemed perfect. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to feel happy, to feel loved. She couldn’t ignore it anymore. The way Hyunjin looked at her, the way he made her heart race with just a glance—it was impossible to deny.

As they walked around the city, Hyunjin’s hand brushed hers. She could feel the warmth of his touch and the connection between them grow stronger with every step they took.

“Mannon,” Hyunjin’s voice was soft, almost hesitant, as they strolled near the Seine. The sunset was casting an orange glow over the water, making the city feel even more magical. “There’s something I need to say.”

Mannon looked up at him, her heart hammering in her chest. She didn’t want to be scared anymore. She wanted to be open, to admit how she felt, even if it terrified her. “What is it?”

Hyunjin stopped walking and turned to face her, his hand gently taking hers. He looked into her eyes, and for the first time in a while, there was no barrier between them, no walls keeping them apart.

“I care about you, Mannon. More than I’ve ever cared about anyone,” he confessed, his voice deep with emotion. “I’ve been falling for you... and I can’t hide it anymore.”

Mannon’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected him to say it again, but hearing the words again made everything feel real.

“I’ve been falling for you, too,” she whispered, her heart swelling with the truth she’d been avoiding. “I was just... scared. Scared of everything changing. Scared of what this means for us.”

Hyunjin smiled softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “We don’t have to rush it. But I want you to know that I’m here, Mannon. I’m not going anywhere.”

She nodded, the warmth of his words spreading through her, but just as she was about to say something else, her phone buzzed in her pocket. The moment shattered. She pulled it out, her heart sinking as she saw the name on the screen.

It was a message from Chan.

“Where are you? Something’s wrong.”

Panic surged through her, and she immediately dialed his number, her fingers trembling. The phone rang three times before he picked up.

“Mannon, where are you? We’ve got a situation,” Chan’s voice was frantic. “There’s a stalker—he’s been tracking your movements. I’ve lost contact with you guys, and I can’t—”

The line went dead. Mannon stared at the screen in disbelief. Her stomach twisted in knots as her thoughts raced.

Hyunjin’s face twisted with concern when he saw her expression. “What’s happening? What did Chan say?”

“He said there’s a stalker... and now—now I don’t know where he is.” Her voice cracked, the fear flooding her senses.

Suddenly, the atmosphere around them shifted. A dark figure emerged from the shadows, a mask covering his face. Mannon’s heart pounded, and she grabbed Hyunjin’s arm, but before she could even react, a sharp pain shot through her chest as a needle pricked her skin. Her vision blurred. The world spun.

Hyunjin shouted her name, but it was too late. The world went black.

---

Mannon woke up to the sound of her own breathing—shallow, ragged. Her head was spinning, and her body felt heavy. She tried to move, but her hands were bound to a chair, and she was in a dark, unfamiliar room. Panic rose in her chest, her breathing quickening as the reality of the situation set in.

Where was she? Why was she here?

Her heart raced as memories of the night before flooded back—Hyunjin, Paris, the stalker, and then... everything went blank.

She struggled against the ropes, but they wouldn’t budge. It was hopeless. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts, but it was difficult.

Then she heard footsteps. The door creaked open, and a figure stepped into the room. The man’s face was still masked, but she could feel his presence. She wasn’t alone.

“You’re a lot stronger than I thought you’d be,” he said, his voice deep and cold. “But it doesn’t matter. Soon, you’ll be mine. All mine.”

Mannon’s pulse quickened as she fought against her restraints, but it was no use. Her thoughts were racing. What had happened? Why was he doing this? Was anyone looking for her?

The sound of her phone buzzing in her pocket made her freeze. She hadn’t realized it was still there.

“Don’t bother,” the man said, a sick smile in his voice. “You won’t be getting any help.”

Mannon’s heart sank, but her instincts kicked in. She had to stay calm. She had to find a way out.

---

Back in Paris, chaos had erupted. Chan, Hannah, and the rest of the guys were beside themselves. They’d been frantically trying to reach Mannon, but her phone was off. No one had heard from her for hours. Hyunjin was pacing in the hotel room, his anxiety palpable. He couldn’t sit still, couldn’t focus. The connection he’d felt with Mannon—his feelings for her—had never been clearer, and now he was terrified of losing her.

“I can’t lose her, Chan,” Hyunjin said, his voice shaking with emotion.

“You won’t,” Chan said, his voice dark and determined. “We’re going to find her, Hyunjin. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

But as the hours passed and the search efforts intensified, the panic among the group only grew. Amara had flown in from Seoul after receiving the news, her face pale with worry. Hannah was with her, pacing as she tried to stay calm, but it was hard. They were all on edge, desperate to find any clue that might lead them to Mannon.

“We’re going to find her,” Chan repeated, clenching his fists. “We’re going to get her back.”

But Hyunjin, who had barely spoken since the moment Mannon had been taken, couldn’t hold back any longer. His emotions overwhelmed him, and he broke down, his shoulders shaking with the weight of everything. “What if we’re too late?”

“I won’t let that happen,” Chan said, his voice tight with a mixture of fear and determination.

Hyunjin turned to him, his eyes red from the tears he’d been holding back. “I love her, Chan. I love her so much, and I can’t... I can’t lose her.”

The room fell silent. The words hung in the air, the truth finally laid bare. The rest of the guys, who had been listening quietly, exchanged looks, but no one knew what to say.

But there was one thing they all knew for certain. They weren’t giving up on Mannon. Not now. Not ever.